Ik kan me goed vinden in deze beschouwing van Patrick Connolly :
Is Apple Really Dropping Google Maps for iOS6? Really?
Posted Sun, 13 May 2012 15:30:00 EDT by Patrick Connolly
Over the weekend, unofficial news that Apple will use its own in-house mapping for iOS 6 has broken. Inevitably, a lot of pro-Apple websites were hailing the 3D element as revolutionary. When we get over the immediacy of this breaking news, it is hard to see how Apple has developed a solution that can compete with Google and Nokia/Microsoft, covering the many facets that make up a complete, worldwide mapping service. Information is still very limited. Is this a full-blown mapping solution or 3D city imagery? Is it US focused or worldwide? Can it support search and navigation? Is this even true?
Certainly, the acquisition of C3 technologies was a very good one, and will bring the wow factor that Apple is so good at producing. Siri is a great example of this. Google has a much stronger position on both search and voice recognition technologies, yet Apple stole the headlines with what has turned out to be an often frustrating experience for users. But ultimately, it is unlilkely coverage extends far beyond major cities, given the time and costs involved.
And won't someone please think of the developers. It would seem Apple is unlikely to drop Google maps in such a short space of time (assuming iOS 6 launches in September), given the number of applications that use it. The most likely scenario is a separate 3D imagery service, available to developers as a separate API alongside Google Maps. This will no doubt enable unique features and it will be interesting to see what they have done on indoor imagery.
Although it seems unlikely, how could Apple fully replace Google Maps in time for iOS 6? This of course is pure speculation based on a severe lack of facts, but the most likely answer is TomTom/TeleAtlas (or possibly OSM). Although it has been quiet on the consumer front of late, especially on indoor mapping, TomTom sits on one of the best worldwide mapping databases. In 2012, Samsung has partnered with TomTom/TeleAtlas on mapping for Bada devices, illustrating its capabilities as a Google alternative. It is very unlikely that Apple is going to go out and spend the time and money creating the necessary base maps and geolocation databases. Instead, innovating on top of (or even acquiring) TomTom's solution is a far better proposition, especially given Apple's ability to negotiate very favorable licensing terms. From TomTom's point of view, this would be a major step on the road to recovery.
We moeten goed beseffen dat het vorig jaar een feit was dat Apple bezig was iets te ontwikkelen met mapdata van TT (ik zet het nog even integraal neer omdat het op dit forum telkens genegeerd wordt):
“TomTom” Spotted In iOS Legalese, New Apple Maps Coming?
By Adriana Lee on June 23, 2011 in Apple
New evidence has apparently been spotted that gives weight to the rumor about Apple working on its own iOS mapping solution.
Inside the latest iOS 5 beta, a new tidbit in Apple’s Map Data legal statement, housed in a brand new section that sits apart from Google Map’s software license. In it, not only does the name “TomTom” (a giant in mobile navigation) appear, but also “Waze,” the maps and traffic data company known on the consumer side for its very popular crowd-sourced application.
Other navigation-related companies are included in here as well. In addition to TomTom and Waze, there’s mention of:
CoreLogic, which offers parcel data that marks property boundaries high accuracy in location-based solutions.
Getchee, a location data provider covering China, India and Southeast Asia.
Increment P Corp, which supplies location and traffic data covering Japan.
Localeze, a company that offers listings of local business.
MapData Sciences Pty Ltd. Inc, a mapping company for Australia and New Zealand.
DMTI, provider of postal code data for Canada.
Urban Mapping, which specializes in in-depth neighborhood data such as crime, demographics, school performance, economic indicators and others. (UM was a partner of Placebase four years ago, before Apple bought the company.)
The fact that this section sits apart from the Google Map license is what’s setting tongues wagging. (Though perhaps not as much as it would’ve on any other day than this one, when a Chinese tipster leaked the iPhone 5‘s September release. Click on this TechnoBuffalo post for more on that.)
Since Google has already re-upped with Apple for its iOS maps, users probably won’t be foregoing GMaps anytime soon. But that begs the question, what is all this evidence pointing to then? A separate native navigation application? Or GMap’s replacement for iOS 6 maybe? Let us know if you have
Saillant is ook dat betrokkenen er niets over zeiden (blijkbaar was er echt wat aan de hand).
Google heeft het nu blijkbaar ook in de gaten , gezien het feit dat ze morgen een ingelast event inzake Google maps houden.
De impact voor Google is groot als Google maps volgende week echt geditcht blijkt te worden, Ze missen dan inkomsten van Apple als grootverbruiker van Google maps (de nieuwe heffing die flink aantelt). En mogelijk kunnen ook anderen (Foursquare ) hierdoor weg. En voor de advertentieinkomsten van Google is het eventueel wegvallen van Applegebruikers ook niet goed.
Maar ook voor Tomtom zou de impact m.i. groot zijn. Ik kan me voorstellen dat er tot nu toe niets over gezegd kon worden omdat bijv dat contractueel aan Apple voorbehouden is. Maar als Tim Cook volgende week dinsdag een mind blowing Apple maps laat zien met ook maar iets van Tomtom onder de motorkap dan is dat zeker koersgevoelige informatie. En dan zal men er toch mee voor de draad moeten komen.
Het mapslandschap via de smartphone zal m.i. snel op zijn kop worden gezet.
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